Why do Christians sin?

Article by Casey McFall

I’m going to cut to the chase, there is only one reason why Christians sin: A lack of love for God. Everything else hinges on this one thing! If we love God the way that we are supposed to, the way Mark 12:30 commands us to, we will not sin. Let me say that one more time, we will NOT sin! There is a habit amongst Bible-believing Christians to talk about sinning almost as if it is an unavoidable part of life. As if it is absolutely impossible not to sin, or at least essentially impossible not to sin. But this isn’t Biblical, which means that it isn’t true! There are multiple places in the Bible where we are commanded not to sin, commanded to live a sinless life, are told that we have victory over sin, and 1 John 3:6 even says that those who abide in God do not sin.

I can practically hear an overwhelming number of voices being raised in objection right now, and arguing that we sin because of our flesh and sin nature (Matthew 26:41), or because we allow ourselves to be drawn away of our own lusts (James 1:14-15), or for some other completely valid and correct reason. But if you examine each of these reasons and subject them to a root-cause analysis, you will doubtlessly discover that they all trace back to this single cause of a lack of love for God!

Take the “flesh is weak” reason for example. In the very same verse where we are told that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41), we are also given the solution to this weakness. The solution to resisting temptation is to watch and pray. It sounds so easy! But so many Christians (most? nearly all?) don’t do it! But if we truly love God then we will naturally want to pray more often.

I am not naturally a very talkative man. I’m not given to small-talk and don’t have much desire to actively engage others in conversation. But the first thing that I do every day when I get home from work is go talk to my wife! When we are apart, I’m texting her and calling her. I love talking with her or just listening to her talk. This change in outward behavior is a direct result of the love in my heart! It should be the same way with God.

In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul made the statement that the love of God constraineth us. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “constrain” as: To compel or force; to urge with irresistible power, or with a power sufficient to produce the effect. In other words, Paul is saying here that the love of God should be so strong in our lives that it’s as if an absolute power were forcing us to do His will in spite of our own fleshly desires!

While the love of God is compelling us to do the things of God and produce the fruit of the Spirit however, the flesh is also pulling us to sin. And this is why we cannot stop sinning without loving God. We can pray, we can be careful, but that draw will always be there. In Romans 7:15, Paul acknowledged his own battle with the draw of sin. It’s like the story that Jesus told in Matthew 12:43-45. The devil returned with seven other devils even more wicked than himself because the man had not replaced the devil with anything Godly! When we stop sinning, a void is left behind as the flesh is no longer being satisfied. If we try to stop sinning without filling that void with a deep love for God, we will always fail!

Further evidence of this can be seen in James 1:14-15, which says: “14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” We are tempted when we are drawn away of our own lusts, but if every fiber of our being is dedicated to loving God, then there is no room left over for lust! Moreover, it will become natural for us to want to do the things of God rather simply doing them because we know it is right. We know that it’s right to be nice to people, but it’s easy to be nice to them when we actually cherish a deep love for that person!

So it all comes down to one thing. If you want victory over sin, increase your love for God! Sounds easy right? As is the truth with most things in the Bible, it is remarkably easy and yet feels so difficult! How easy is it to accept Christ as your savior and obtain eternal life? So easy that the thief on a cross could do it and yet so hard that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Want to know what the Bible says about loving God more deeply? Read my article "How to love God more?"

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

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Comment:

Another great article. You do an exquisite job of further defending the Word of God and you points. I love how smooth your transition from one article is to another. I also really enjoy how you put little things about yourself. I see you, but I don't think O have ever talked to you or took the time to get to know you. I have the opportunity to do that now by reading your articles. Thank you for sharing and giving the thought provoking point.

Maribeth&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp April 16, 2019, 4:30 a.m.

We have to purpose to live for and to love God. Great article

Cheryl&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp April 5, 2019, 3:03 a.m.

Looks like the next article will answer my question of how to I love God.

Anonymous&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp April 3, 2019, 4:54 a.m.

Yes!!! Yes, yes, yes!! The more you love the more the good outweighs the bad.